FYI: The Illini are 5-1 all time against the Hoosiers in the Big Ten tournament, with the last meeting a 71-59 UI win in the 2004 quarterfinals.

MARCUS JACKSON'S STORYLINES

1

Opening the tournament on a Friday is new territory for the Hoosiers, who grew accustomed to playing on Thursdays as the program tried to rebuild after the Kelvin Sampson fiasco. “My first two years we were playing on Thursday. This year we have a bye and don’t have to play until Friday, so it shows how much hard work we have put in this season,” Indiana guard Oladipo said. “To pull out that tough win at Michigan was huge for our program and huge for our team. At the same time, we want to accomplish so much more, and the Big Ten tournament is the first step.”

2

A few days after having a confrontation on the floor with a Michigan assistant coach, Indiana’s Tom Crean is playing nice with the Illini — so far. The coach tweeted a message to his followers shortly after Illinois’ last-second win against Minnesota on Thursday. “We will be facing an excellent coach in John Groce with an excellent staff,” Crean tweeted. “(Their) ball movement and spacing are very good.”

3

If Illinois is to pull off the upset for the second time this season against Indiana, it knows more players besides Brandon Paul will have to step up offensively to match the high-octane Hoosiers. “I know they got beat at home against Ohio State, but you go on the road and win at Michigan to win the Big Ten title, you’re playing well,” said Illini assistant Dustin Ford, who has the scout. “They’ve got pros. They’ve got guys who can make plays, and we’ve got to play well and hope we can make some shots, score in transition a little bit and limit theirs.”

PREDICTIONIndiana 73, Illinois 66The mind-set for Illinois all season has been “next game.” That just happens to be archrival Indiana on one of the biggest stages most of the players have performed. From the sounds of things, they don’t seem fazed, though the task will be daunting. “We got Indiana next, and we have a mind-set that this is it for us,” Paul said. “Especially for us seniors, we got to play, go out with a bang.” (N-G record: 21-12)

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By the way Paul says "We got to go out with a bang".... It sounds like he gives the Illini no chance because if he says to GO OUT with a bang, that means there wont be another game afterthis one since were going out (with a bang). Thanks BP3

ISITOVERYET: Brandon did not say that they would go out with a BANG in this next game. A win over Indiana would be going out with a BANG no matter how they faired in the rest of the B1G tournament. If you must interprete this statement negatively, it is an acknowledgement that they will not win the National Championship.